Deuteronomy 5:17
““You shall not murder.”
What does Deuteronomy 5:17 mean?
This commandment protects the sanctity of human life by forbidding the unlawful taking of another person. In the ancient world as today, it recognized that each person bears God's image and deserves protection from violence. The word translated here as "murder" refers to wrongful killing, not all killing (like in legitimate defense or lawful punishment), which is an important distinction the broader biblical laws make clear. Whether you're processing grief from loss, struggling with anger, or simply seeking to live rightly, this command invites us into a posture of valuing and protecting the lives of those around us.